Ken Esparza
On Friday, February 28th, at approximately 11:30 pm officers with the Wichita Falls Police Department were dispatched to the 2700 block of Central Fwy, Walmart, in reference to a disturbance. As officers were responding they were advised that a Hispanic male was attempting to break into the gun cabinet that is located in the sporting goods section of the store. Officers were also advised that the suspect was armed with a baseball bat. At one point officers were told it was a possible active shooter situation.
When officers arrived they located several subjects inside the store that appeared distressed and were telling officers that the suspect was at the sporting goods section. Officers immediately responded to that area where they located a Hispanic male, who was later identified as 38 year old Ken Esparza from San Antonio. Officers observed Esparza holding a bat. The gun cabinet glass was broken and a firearm had been removed. When officers went to place handcuffs on him he began to resist, however they were able to get him into custody without further incident. Esparza first gave officers a false name, but after further investigation they were able to determine his true identity.
Esparza was transported to the Wichita County jail where he was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, theft of a firearm, resisting arrest, and failure to identify. There were no reported injuries.
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